Creating life-long friendships is a priceless experience. Geneva Mann and Phyllis Ledbetter are the epitome of two women who have kept their friendship glowing since the first grade. The two women, who did not reveal their ages, are both celebrating anniversaries this year. Mann just celebrated her fiftieth anniversary, while her best friend Ledbetter will celebrate her fifty-second this spring. When asked how they keep the strength of their friendship alive, they said they have a little help from gourd art.

Mann has been creating gourd artwork since 1980, when she and Ledbetter both decided to try the craft together. This hobby gives them an added reason to meet and see each other on a weekly basis. They routinely meet for breakfast and enjoy conversation along with their gourd art craft of the week.

Mann lives on a farm in Chambers County and grows her own gourds. She said it is getting harder to grow gourds because of the dry weather. “ Gourds are 90 percent water,” Mann said. Mann pulled out her own gourd seeds from a plastic bag and awed over the fact that gourds grow from such a small black seed. She then described the preparation process before the gourds are even ready to use. Mann said, “You also must clean the gourds with scrubbing bubbles and let them sit for a while to get the black mildew off before using them.”

Mann said that although they have been making artwork out of gourds for many years, they just recently joined the Alabama Gourd Society. Three years ago, she and Ledbetter decided to join, and now they regret joining so late. They meet the first Sunday of each month and learn a new craft with gourds. Next month the society will be learning how to make a rabbit out of gourds. The women, and few men, in the society have all learned a lot from each other. They even took a class at Auburn, which taught them how to paint on gourds with watercolors, chalk and magic markers. The society is now made up of around 20-22 people, which is a lot more than when Mann first joined. “ After channel 12 came and interviewed us, the society became a lot more popular,” Mann said.

Mann said it usually takes her about 30 minutes to an hour to complete a gourd project. She has made everything from Santa Clauses, ornaments, Halloween pumpkins, birdhouses, jewelry, dolls, banks and masks all out of gourds. Mann likes to take her work to festivals and state competitions. Her wolf mask won first place in the competition held in Cullman, Ala.

Mann’s favorite things to make are her gourds where she wood burns the outside and then paints them. She showed off her wood-burning tool and demonstrated how she traces a pattern onto a gourd, and then burns it off carefully. Mann says she finds her work therapeutic, and carries her supplies with her all of the time. She works the night shift at an assisted living center, so she passes the time with her gourd art.

Although Mann could be making a lot of money by selling her gourd artwork, she prefers just to give them as gifts or keep them for herself. She likes going to festivals and selling her items at booths, but for the most part she just enjoys the process of making them and spending time with her best friend, Ledbetter. The women will be displaying their gourd art at the end of April at the Auburn festival at Kiesel Park. This could serve as an opportunity to be inspired by the gourd art, as well as an excuse to go out and spend time with your own friends.


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